Chapter 272: Insurance [bonus]
"But nobody actually drinks it," Alex continued, his pace slower now. "Hermes shows up at that exact moment, stops Snape, and takes the person away."
Regulus noticed it. Alex was watching his reaction.
He'd told them to let Costa and Vance take a bit of a hit. Alex had heard that, but knowing him, he'd been turning it over in his head ever since, trying to gauge what "a bit" meant.
The plan he'd designed spared them entirely. Snape grabs one, pretends to force the potion, Hermes arrives on cue. Controlled from start to finish.
Alex was worried the arrangement was too soft, that Regulus would find it insufficient.
Regulus looked at him. Said nothing. After a moment, he nodded. "Good work."
Alex's shoulders dropped, and he let out a breath, obvious enough that he caught himself doing it. A sheepish smile flickered across his face.
"Hermes." Alex turned his head.
Hermes lay on his bed, breathing even, one hand resting on his stomach. No response.